Disney Month IV: Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans (2000)
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison
Directed by: Boaz Yakin


If there's one thing Disney has done a lot of since the '90s, it's making inspirational sports movies. Cool Runnings, Glory Road, Miracle, and many more. A lot of them exist, but there are two I'm going to talk about this weekend. The first is Remember the Titans, which I will go on record to say is the best sports movie that Disney has made. There's two majorly important points that will help validate my claim. The first is the exceptional cast, composed of some of my favorite actors from film and television. The other is the story, fueled by motivation and the ability to overcome adversity. That might not seem like a groundbreaking concept to today's moviegoers, but the formula was still fresh enough when Remember the Titans was released. Because of that, all sports movies of the modern era look to Remember the Titans as the prototype for making a serious sports movie.

The film features a strong focus on the integration of race. A great display of that is in the dueling coaches that eventually learn a lot from each other. Denzel Washington stars as Coach Herman Boone, and does an amazing job at commanding the screen. He has scenes that are filled with raw, sincere dedication, as well as scenes that show a lighter, more humorous side. He's hard on his players, but you understand that he isn't being a jerk. He knows that his methods will benefit his players in the long run, so you just have to trust what he says. Boone's assistant coach Bill Yoast, played by Will Patton, is another great character. He's being replaced by Boone, so you get to see a lot of scenes that are filled with tension and animosity, at first. Over time, however, you can see that they both have something to teach the players that the other coach doesn't specialize in. Boone's key strategy is for them to get along and act as a team, while Yoast helps them on the field and shows compassion for them as individuals.

Another great thing about Remember the Titans is the supporting cast. This film has a cast that is full of hungry, young stars working to steal the show, and many of them do. Ryan Hurst and Wood Harris are phenomenal as bickering players Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell. You feel their animosity, but are able to see how they form a friendship throughout the film. Other notable cast members include Donald Faison as Petey Jones, Ethan Suplee as Louie Lastik, Kip Pardue as Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass, Craig Kirkwood as Jerry "Rev" Harris, and a young Ryan Gosling as Alan Bosley. Another great cast member is a very young Hayden Panettiere as Coach Yoast's daughter Cheryl. She's such a spitfire for a girl her age and knows a lot about football that you'll be laughing at her adorableness in all her scenes.

I have no issues saying that Remember the Titans is a great film. It's powerful and it moves me every time I watch it. It's a movie that transcends race and teaches viewers that the greatest of success can come from overcoming adversity. The cast is great, the story is great, the movie is well-executed, it's a movie that can make people think, it's a movie that can make people cry, and it's a movie with a message that is still relevant in today's culture. If you like sports movies, I'd tell you to go check this one out, but odds are that you already have.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Remember the Titans is an inspiring story worth telling and watching. With a tremendous cast and gripping storytelling, it's a movie that I can honestly recommend all sports fans watching. Add this one to your collection, you won't be disappointed.

Remember the Titans and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures